Vascular Medicine

Vascular Medicine

How do you define Vascular Medicine?

In 2013 The UEMS Division of Angiology-Vascular Medicine published (after approval by the UEMS Council) the following definition, the first official one at European level (Int Angiol 2013;32:608-12"... Vascular Medicine is the Medical Specialty dealing with Vascular Diseases (arterial, venous, and lymphatic microcirculatory diseases) and Focuses on prevention, diagnosis, therapy and rehabilitation as well as research and education, to benefit patients and the general population. Angiology-Vascular Medicine are synonyms in different countries "

What is the difference between Vascular Medicine and Angiology?

No difference, the accepted definitions are the same.They are considered synonymous.Their use varies in different European countries, according to tradition.In any case, Vascular Medicine and Angiology refer to the medical area of vascular disease.Therefore any other use is incorrect, as this definition has been clearly established at European level.

In other non-European countries the term used is Vascular Medicine.Angiology is also used as a "mixed-term", which does not refer to a specific specialty. However, this is not etymologically correct and should be gradually corrected in at least all corporate departments and societes.

When did we stop using the term “Medical Angiology”?

Since VAS proposed an amendment to be consistent with the meaning (Angiology, as Cardiology, neurology etc) are etymologically specialties of medicine and the term Medical is a repetition.This proposal was unanimously approved during a meeting, invited and organised by VAS, of the Scientific Societies.

What is the current situation of Vascular Medicine Specialty around Europe?There are well known rules to include a specialty in European Directives, depending on the number of European Union countries in which this specialty is recognized in ratio to the total number of EU member countries.At present our specialty (with the term of Vascular Medicine or Angiology) is recognized:Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland (Non EU Country)

To date what has Vascular Medicine achieved in Europe?

• Thanks to the VAS proposal put forward to UEMS in 2000, the firm battles and intense work to convince all involved, with the support of the National Scientific Societies, at the end of 2007 the UEMS Council approved the establishment of the UEMS Division of Angiology/Vascular Medicine , activated in 2008.

• The approval of the Policy Statement and Chapter 6, ratified, for the first time, the before mentioned definition.

• With the approval by the UEMS Council and publication (Int Angiol 2016;April:35(2):217-31) of the UEMS European Training Requirements for Angiology and Vascular Medicine Document , an historic step for our specialty, recognition has been received for:

What are the European educational and training basis for these activities in Vascular Medicine?

The VAS European training activities were fundamental and the guarantee for this initial recognition described above and they represent the training support for all current European activities.

In particular, among the main training offers:• European Advanced Postgraduate Course in Angiology- Vascular Medicine (in collaboration and with Academic Certification)• European Master in Angiology- Vascular Medicine (in collaboration and with Academic Degree)• VAS European Advanced Postgraduate Courses in different areas of Vascular Medicine• VAS European Book on Vascular Medicine available from Spring 2017

2 Key initiatives launched by VAS which you can join and make your own contribution:• PAD & Vascular European Days (with 23 active Scientific Societies) targeting the population• VAS European Vascular Patients Network

VAS position and collaboration in the Vascular Medicine and Vascular area

VAS promotes collaboration and considers the mutual respect of competencies, roles and rules and the existent as the base for Cooperation with National Scientific Societies and with other Scientific Societies/European and International Organisations.No overlapping, but to unite the energies in a fair, fruitful and mutual reinforcement for the good of Vascular Medicine - Angiology and above all for its users, the public and patients.